MORE civic engagement and access to information have been listed by experts as the benefits that Tanzania is poised to gain as a result surpassing the target of increased literacy
The third National Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III) 2021/22 – 2025/26, targeted to make 81.6 per cent of the population aged 15 years and above literate. In analysis, the data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that the target has been surpassed as currently 83 per cent of the population is literate.
In a separate interview with the ‘Daily News,’ the analysts noted that surpassing the target of having a majority of population literate will increase community engagement in various issues such as voting as well as access to information.
Commenting on the matter an Expert in education with the Tanzania Education Network (TenMet), Mr Nicodemus Shauri said having 83 per cent literate people is a significant achievement, indicating a high literacy rate.
He said such an increment has several implications for the country’s education and development, particularly economic growth.
“Literate individuals are more likely to participate in civic activities, such as voting, community decisionmaking, and advocacy, which can lead to more informed and active citizenship,” he asserted.
“Literacy enables individuals to access and understand information, which is crucial in making informed decisions about their health, education and personal development,” he added.
He further said despite the achievement attained, still there were areas that required special attention including bridging the gender gap in literacy rates.
“While literacy rate is high, the quality of education may still be a concern,” he said. His view was seconded by a lecturer at the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) -Mwanza Campus, Dr Honest Kimario who said the increase of literacy rate in the country implies Tanzania is effectively implementing global Sustainable Development Goal Number 4 which insists on the Quality Education for all.
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“I really appreciate the efforts of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to ensure the three 3Rs (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) are under close implementation at the pre-primary and the first two years of primary education,” he pointed out.
Dr Kimario added that the increase of literacy rate to 83 per cent is an outcome of universal free primary education policy of the government which has made it possible for everyone to get education.
“The impact of increased literacy rate is expected to reduce crimes, growth of the economy and generally improve the livelihood of Tanzanians,” he added.
On his part, an educational consultant at HakiElimu, Dr Wilberforce Meena, said although the percentage reached is praiseworthy, more investment for the country’s adult education system is still required.
“To eliminate the existing gap of illiteracy in the country, it is important to increase investment in the adult education system and lifelong learning,” Dr Meena underlined.
In three years of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership the government has significantly increased investment in education.
Tabling the national budget recently in National Assembly in Dodoma, Minister for Finance Dr Mwigulu Nchemba said the government continued to improve primary and secondary education by enhancing human resource, improving infrastructures and curriculum.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
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The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
Tanzania Declares End of Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak
Tanzania today declared the end of Marburg virus disease outbreak after recording no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 January 2025.
The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced. Both this outbreak, which was declared on 20 January 2025, and the one in 2023 occurred in the north-eastern Kagera region.
In response to the latest outbreak, Tanzania’s health authorities set up coordination and response systems, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, at the national and regional levels and reinforced control measures to swiftly detect cases, enhance clinical care, infection prevention as well as strengthen collaboration with communities to raise awareness and help curb further spread of the virus.
Growing expertise in public health emergency response in the African region has been crucial in mounting effective outbreak control measures. Drawing on experience from the response to the 2023 Marburg virus disease outbreak, WHO worked closely with Tanzanian health authorities to rapidly scale up key measures such as disease surveillance and trained more than 1000 frontline health workers in contact tracing, clinical care and public health risk communication. The Organization also delivered over five tonnes of essential medical supplies and equipment.
“The dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of the national authorities and our partners have paid off,” said Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania. “While the outbreak has been declared over, we remain vigilant to respond swiftly if any cases are detected and are supporting ongoing efforts to provide psychosocial care to families affected by the outbreak.”
Building on the momentum during the acute phase of the outbreak response, measures have been put in place to reinforce the capacity of local health facilities to respond to potential future outbreaks. WHO and partners are procuring additional laboratory supplies and other equipment for disease detection and surveillance and other critical services.
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Source: allafrica.com
